Inspection Detail

Inspection: 2487338 - Floturn Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Cincinnati Area Office

Inspection Nr: 2487338

Report ID: 0522000

Date Opened: 01/30/1985

Site Address:
Floturn Inc
120 Progress Place
Cincinnati, OH 45246

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:3469

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Complaint

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 01/30/1985

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 03/21/1986

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Complaint	70500400		Yes
Inspection	214638173

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1			1		2
Current Violations	1			1		2
Initial Penalty	$300	$0	$0	$0	$0	$300
Current Penalty	$300	$0	$0	$0	$0	$300
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100133 A01	02/26/1985	03/06/1985	$300	$300	$0		-
2.	02001	Other	19040002 A	02/26/1985	03/26/1985	$0	$0	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14371694

Event: 01/30/1985

EXPOSURE TO HYDROGEN SELENIDE

THIS INCIDENT (EXPOSURE TO HYDROGEN SELENIDE GAS) LED TO THE HOSPITALIZATION OF ONE EMPLOYEE AND THE TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF TWO OTHERS. THE COMPANY STRIPS THE SELENIUM COATING FROM ALUMINUM CORE DRUMS IN A GRINDING OPERATION. THE DRUMS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PHOTO COPY INDUSTRY. THE STRIPPING PROCESS UTILIZES A WATER BASED COOLANT AND PRODUCES A SLUDGE, PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF SELENIUM AND ALUMINUM. A SCRAPPER, AUGER TYPE, USED TO TO SEPARATE THE AQUEOUS PHASE FROM THE SLUDGE, WAS REMOVED FROM THE PROCESS AND PLACED IN A REMOTE PORTION OF THE PLANT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS THE SCRAPPER, COATED WITH DRY SLUDGE, BEGAN TO SOUR, EMITTING AN OFFENSIVE ODOR. EMPLOYEES WERE INSTRUCTED TO MOVE THE UNIT OUTSIDE AND CLEAN THE SLUDGE FROM THE SCRAPPER. THE SLUDGE WAS REMOVED AND PLACED INTO A BARREL. WATER WAS ADDED. THE WATER REACTED WITH THE SLUDGE, PRODUCING HYDROGEN SELENIDE GAS. EMPLOYEE #1 DOUBLED OVER, EXTREMELY NAUSEAS, AND COUGHED EXCESSIVELY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE SYMTOMS SUBSIDED UNTIL, ABOUT 6 HOURS LATER, PULMONARY EDEMA OCCURRED. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH AN ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS LEVEL OF 38% OXYGEN.?? THE COMPANY WAS INSTRUCTED TO IMPLEMENT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, COMPOSED OF TRAINING AND NEUTRALIZATION OF THE SLUDGE WITH SODA ASH. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE COMPANY HAD HAD SUCH AN INCIDENT.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, HYDROGEN SELENIDE, PULMONARY EDEMA, PPE, RESPIRATOR

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	2487338	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
2	2487338	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
3	2487338	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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